Friction roll foe looms



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,080

FRICTION ROLL FOR LOOMS Filed Nov. 1926 93 7, domw Patented Nov. 15, 1927..

wire!) ST PAT T OFF lC E.

FRICTION ROLL FOR LOOIVIS.

Application filed November 6, 1926. Serial No. 146,674.

.This invent-ion relates to a tension roll for use on looms, particularly looms for producing fine fabrics, and aims to provide an improved roll covering of greater umfornnty and durability than the coverings heretofore used for tension rolls for such looms, and free from harmful effects upon the fabric.

To these ends, this invention aims to eliminate slippage of the fabric on the tension roll, to provide for the feeding of fabrics, no matter "howdelicate, tothe wrapping roll in perfect condition and at a uniform tension throughout their width. and to provide a durable and easily restored friction surface.

While my invention is particularly advantageous for use on looms weaving delicate fabrics, especially broad silk looms, it is not limited thereto, but is of general utility in any situation where fabrics arepull-ed along by a friction roller.

Other advantages of the invention will be obvious from the description of the embodiment shown, and other forms of the inven tion will suggest themselves as suitable for various specialized purposesof the same general nature.

In the accompanying drawings and description, which illustrate a preferred form of my invention exemplified as applied to a broad silk loom of conventional type, and wherein the same elements are designated in all figures by the same reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the takeup end of a loom to which my nnproved tension roll has been applied;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the tension roll, showing more clearly the usual relation of such a roll in the loom assembly;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view on a larger scale. of a preferred construction of the roll partly broken away to show the details of construction; and

Fig. i is a longitudinal View of a tension roll and related elements, illustrating diagrammatically a method of applying the roll covering.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, my improved friction roll is shown mounted in a loom frame in the usual position below the iron spreader roll 11 and pressure roll 12 and above the wrapping roll 14c These rolls 11 and 12 guide and constrain the cloth to engage the greater part of the circumference of the friction roll, and the guide roll 13 conducts it to the wrapping roll 14, all in the manner well known in the art. Arrows indicate the. direction of rotation of the various rolls. The driving connection between my friction roll 10 and the wrapping roll 14 forms no part of my invention, but my roll is adapted to be utilized in connection with a loom take up mechanism such as is disclosed by United States Patent No. 1,226,525, granted May 15, 19 17, to Lawrence B. Jericlres.

My improved roll 10, the construction of which is show-n in detail in Fig. 3, consists preferably of a rubber sleeve with a continuous seamless cylinderical surface, either smooth or suitably roughened,-and securely mounted on a wooden or metal cylinder 31. This sleeve may advantageously be made with a normal inside diameter less than the outside diameter of the cylinder, thus givmg a tight stretch fit, preventingcreeping of the sleeve upon the cylinder. A layer of cement32 may be used between the cylinder and the sleeve, when necessary as a further safeguard against creeping, or the surface of the cylinder may be otherwise suitably treated to this end. i

character of the surface of the tension roll is an important feature of my invention, and its texture may best be described as uniformly roughened. It is to be understood, however, that the term rough is used in this connection in a strictly relative sense, and the actual roughness of the surface will be proportioned to the nature of the fabric which my roll is to handle. Thus for extremely delicate materials the rough ening of the roll surface might be just sufficientto avoid slickness. Such a dull finish, rough when viewed under magnification, is apparently smooth to the touch. Whether the surface be fine or coarse it is highly important that it be uniform throughout the entire working surface of the covering. The roughening may be accomplished by any appropriate means. For example, an initial rough surface may be provided by leaving the cloth impression resulting from vulcanizing. Where extreme accuracy and'nicety of texture is necessary the formed roll may be suitably abraded to a true cylindrical.

surface, using an abrasive sufficiently coarse to leave the desired degree of surface roughness. When the initial finish becomes worn toe smooth it may be restored by ettee til) tive means, such as rubbing with emery cloth or by brushing with a wire brush.

1 am aware that rolls covered with sand paper or cork have been used heretofore, and that experiments have been made with spirally wrapped rubber strips as a covering for tension rolls of this nature, but such rolls have proved unsatisfactory or unsuccessful, due to the impossibility of maintaining a uniform surface that will pull the fabric evenly and without injuring it. A further disadvantage of the cork or sand paper covering is the expense of replacement, much skill, care and time being required to apply such coverings. My rubber covering, on the other hand is readily applied, no high degree ofskill or care being necessary.

After the sleeve 30 is vulcanized or given other final treatment on a mandrel 41, it is rolled upon itself into a spiral ring 30 this rolling being begun as shown at 30". One end of the mandrel having been brought into contact with the small end of a cone 42 whose large end abuts the cylinder 31, to be covered, this spiral ring is rolled along the cone 42 onto the cylinder and out to the far end into the position 30. The ring is next unwound by being rolled backwards, to the left in Fig. 4, thereby covering the cylinder smoothly and tightly. Cement may be used onthe cylinder, or omitted, as desired.

It is believed that the operation of my roller will be clear to those skilled in this art from the foregoing specification and the accompanying drawings.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that among the advantages of my invention are the provision of a friction roll surface which will handle even the finest and most delicate fabrics without causing the formation of stars or imperfections due to sand cuts, such as occur where sand paper is used: that will prevent the formation and ironing in of creases or wrinkles, frequently met with in using cork covered tension rolls; and that, by preserving an even tension during weaving. will keep the filler thread at right angles to the warp. A further advantage is the provision of a roll covering quickly and easily applied by unskilled labor. This feature is particularly valuable in reducing the number of loom tension cylinders which must be kept in stock for replacement purposes, and in lowering replacement costs.

Vhat I claim is:

- 1. A covering for a fine-fabric loom takeup roll comprising a seamless rubber tube adapted to be applied directly to said roll, said covering being characterized by uniform resiliency throughout its thickness, and by a delicately roughened uniform surface finish.

2. A covering for a fine-fabric loom takeup roll comprising a seamless rubber tube adapted to be applied directly to said roll, said covering being characterized by uniform resiliency throughout its thickness, and by a delicately roughened uniform surface finish proportioned to the delicacy of the cloth.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

THOMAS S. ROSS. 

